Method for applying designs to a substrate

Abstract

A method for making a laminate adapted for decorating a substrate including providing (1) a sheet of pre-mask material including a cover layer and a layer of removable adhesive on one surface of the cover layer having an exposed surface defining a first major surface for the sheet of pre-mask material; (2) a supply length of decorative film tape comprising a length of decorative film having opposite first and second major surfaces, and a layer of adhesive along its second major surface; (3) a sheet of release liner having a first major surface adapted to be releasably adhered to by the removable adhesive on the cover layer and by the adhesive on the decorative film; and (4) a tape applicator. One of the sheets is supported with its first major surface in an application plane, and the tape applicator is used to form display lengths of decorative film tape of different predetermined shapes and lengths from the supply length of decorative film tape and to apply those display lengths of decorative film tape to the first major surface of that one of the sheets in a predetermined pattern; after which the first major surface of the other of the sheets is positioned over the surfaces of the display lengths of decorative film tape opposite the first major surface of that one of the sheets. The method adheres the layers of adhesive on the display lengths of decorative film tape to the to the release liner, and adheres the layer of removable adhesive included in the layer of pre-mask material over the first major surfaces of the lengths of decorative film in the display lengths of decorative film tape adhered to the release liner and to the release liner around the display lengths of decorative film tape.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A laminate adapted for use to decorate a substrate, said laminate comprising: 
 a layer of pre-mask material comprising a cover layer and a layer of removable adhesive firmly adhered to one surface of the cover layer;    display lengths of decorative film tape each comprising a length of decorative film having opposite major surfaces, and a layer of adhesive along one of the major surfaces; and    a release liner having opposite first and second major surfaces, said first major surface of the release liner being adapted to be releasably adhered to by the removable adhesive on the cover layer and by the adhesive on the decorative film;    said display lengths of decorative film tape having different predetermined shapes and lengths formed by a computer operated tape applicator and being applied to the first surface of the release liner by said tape applicator in a predetermined pattern; and    the layer of removable adhesive included in the layer of pre-mask material being adhered over the outer major surfaces of the display lengths of decorative film tape adhered to the release liner and to the release liner around the display lengths of decorative film tape.    
     
     
         2 . A laminate according to  claim 1  wherein some of said display lengths of decorative film tape adhered to the release liner have closely spaced ends with the spaces between said closely spaced ends being in the range of 0.005 to 0.12 inch or 0.013 to 0.3 cm.  
     
     
         3 . A laminate according to  claim 1  wherein said decorative film has grooves or other structure along the major surface of the decorative film opposite the layer of adhesive so that the decorative film visually simulates a decorative structure.  
     
     
         4 . A laminate according to  claim 1  wherein said decorative film has light reflecting layers within the decorative film.